ABSTRACT
This article proposes a new mixed chain sampling plan based on the process capability index Cpk, where the quality characteristic of interest follows the normal distribution with unknown mean and variance. The advantages of this proposed mixed sampling plan are also discussed. Tables are constructed to determine the optimal parameters for practical applications. In order to construct the tables, the problem is formulated as a nonlinear programming where the objective function to be minimized is the average sample number and the constraints are related to lot acceptance probabilities at acceptable quality level and limiting quality level under the operating characteristic curve. The practical application of the proposed mixed sampling plan is explained with an illustrative example. Comparison of the proposed sampling plan is also made with other existing sampling plans.
Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments which greatly improved the presentation of the manuscript.